The Club Of God- Fearing Men – 6

He did not want to believe he was imagining her, or that his subconscious had conjured up her presence.

“Guy!” someone nudged him again.

He snapped out of his semi-trance and looked back at his friends; his first instinct was to tell them who she was, but then again, what use was it? How would he tell his boys that the first woman that had caught his eye in the church was a mother of two? They would laugh him out of the room.

He had always been known for his ability to cut a clean deal with the women he dabbled with. Tango was the one who usually had a lot of woman drama because he couldn’t seem to keep his pants zipped. There was always one lady out to get back at him for something he had done. He could be likened to Barney Stinson from the popular sitcom How I Met Your Mother.

“Ermm…I…never see any correct babe yet.” He stuttered, dragging his eyes from Abbey who was now entering the club fully with the dude in earrings.

“Why you dey dull now? You don start to dey chuk eye to find Miss World for inside church abi?” Sly asked.

The type of women he frolicked about with were not necessarily the Miss Worlds’ of their generation, his friends knew he could be picky when it came to women even if it was going to be a fling.

As much as he admired women with big hips, balloon sized boobs and a pretty face; he was easily turned on by a woman who could stimulate him intellectually.

If after sleeping with a woman, all she could talk about was how ‘big’ he was, how ‘good’ he was, how ‘sexy’ he was, Genesis knew he wouldn’t last long with her.

Once, there was a woman he had an affair with for ten months, which was a huge deal for Genesis. He had met Ifeyinwa at a business conference organized for engineers, dominated by men. Ifeyinwa had been one of the two women at the one week conference, the other woman was married.

She wasn’t beautiful in the conventional way; her curves were minimal, her boobs were not much bigger than the size of an average mango. In fact he often teased her that her brains were bigger than her boobs.

So it wasn’t beauty that attracted him to Ify; it was the question she asked during one of the seminars at the conference. A question that had even the facilitator at the seminar, reeling in confusion.

His eventual answer had been, “let me get back to you on that, Miss.”

That singular act snagged Genesis attention. He knew he just had to meet her, he had to talk to her, he had to or he would die of not-knowing.

Their first conversation literally blew him away, if he had thought he was smart before, Ify reduced him to mint-sized intelligence.

When she spoke about immiscible liquids and azeotropes, stuff they had learned in chemical engineering, Genesis felt the undisputable urge to kiss her.

When they finally had sex, for him, it was like she was a goddess and sleeping with her was an act of worship.

Ten months! And even when it ended it was because she had to travel out of the country. He didn’t know the plans he had for Ify then, but she had kept him active mentally and sexually longer than any other woman had in a long time.

His guys had teased him about her for months even after she left. They wondered if she had jazzed him because according to them, there were no assets to make her worth keeping around for nearly a year.

If only they knew.

He could dare to say that he had possibly come to the closest thing there was to love with Ify. If love could be classified as great sex and great brains, then hell yeah; he had been so much in love with Ify.

Personally, he felt love was overrated. He wasn’t a cynic, wasn’t one of those people who believed that love was a farce or a mirage. Nope, he believed that love existed. The kind there was between mother and child. The kind that gave without expecting something in return, just like the kind of love he had for his mother.

He knew there was nothing he couldn’t do for that woman, he didn’t know how or why but she was the closest thing to an idol he had. It was because of the intensity of the love he felt for his mother that he believed that no other woman could beat it.

He had tried loving someone else once, had even come close to marrying her, only to discover that she had been using him to get into her father’s Will.

The incident had stabbed Genesis’ confidence somewhat, that he could be a tool someone used, while he gave almost everything; his time, his heart, his little money, Lola had proven to him that no matter how much you give in ‘love’, it would never be enough.

He sighed as he thought of Lola, his first and possibly, only love. Lola, the manipulator. Whenever he looked back at what he had done for her all in the name of love, Genesis pinched himself. He hadn’t been in love, he had been stupid.

“…ladies and gentlemen, as is our tradition fortnightly, we have with us AB Plus who’s gonna light this place up with her feisty voice,” the voice cut through Genesis reverie, jerking his attention to the present. It was the ear ringed man; he was on the stage, his arm around Abbey’s shoulder.

AB Plus?

Now this was going to be interesting.

“AB Plus and I go way back. She’s got the voice of a nightingale, let’s show her some love!” there was a slight ripple of applause from the crowd as ear ringed man stepped down and Abbey took the mic.

“Hi everyone. I’d be doing a song I love so much by Whitney.” her voice settled on the audience like warm chocolate.

Genesis realized it was one of the things he found fascinating about her; her voice had an effect he couldn’t quite explain.

“Di babe fine oh,” Tango whispered, hoarse.

Genesis ignored him, his attention on Abbey. She closed her eyes, tilted her neck slightly, opened her mouth and began to sing.

“As I lay me down

Heaven hear me now,

I’m lost without a cause

After giving it my all…”

There was an eerie silence as she rounded off the song.

“I look to you,

I look to you

After all my strength is gone,

In you I can be strong,

I look to you…”

It was like something from another world had passed among them. Men who were usually rambunctious, who would whistle in derision more often than not after a soulful rendition like that; sat still, like boys awed by the sight of Santa.

Genesis felt it too. His eyes couldn’t leave her face.

She opened her eyes, looking around, she said with a poignant smile:

“Jesus still loves you.”

In that moment, Genesis could have sworn she was talking to him.

“Thank you for listening,” she said and then stepped down from the stage.

The club erupted in applause as she walked away; out of the corner of his eye, he saw men reaching out to shake her hand as she walked by them.

It was an odd sight. Handshakes at a club?

“What just happened?” Genesis heard Chris whisper.

“I dey come,” with that he stood abruptly and followed after Abbey.

He didn’t know what he was doing, in fact her seeing him here would surely blow his ‘Christian brother’ cover but what the heck, he knew he just had to talk to her.

“Hey, Abbey!” he called, hurrying after her.

She stopped and looked over her shoulders. Her face was flushed and beads of sweat formed on her forehead.

He caught up with her.

“Yes?”

“Hey.”

“I’m sorry, your name again?” she frowned.

“Ah and I thought my name was memorable,” he feigned hurt, placing a hand on his chest.

She gave a small laugh, shaking her head. “Truth is I can’t even remember where I met you.”

Genesis was calculating whether that was a good thing or not.

“Never mind. Buy you a drink?”

“No thanks, I don’t drink.”

“Oh come on, Chapman? It’s the least you deserve after such a rendition.”

“Who are you again?” she was facing him fully now, and even though the lights in the club was dim, he could see her face. And it was remarkable.

“Let me buy you a drink and I’d tell you,” he didn’t know why but he needed to talk to her. After a beat he added “please.”

She sighed. “One drink. I have…chores to do at home.”

Children, his brain corrected.

“Thank you. I won’t keep you long, I promise.” He slipped on his most charming smile.

“How about we just hang around here. Going further into the club is…well…I don’t need it.” She suggested, sliding into the nearest empty seat.

“Okay I’ll go get your drink,” he lingered a moment to look at her again, perhaps afraid that by the time he got back she’d be gone.

When he got back, she was still there but someone else was sitting with her. A burly man sat in the seat beside her, leaning forward as though listening raptly to what she was saying.

She looked up at Genesis, gave him a small smile and the finger sign for one minute.

Genesis was irked but he didn’t let it show. What was the man doing? And on time he had begged from her!

He set the drink quietly before her and took a seat, inclining his ear towards their discussion.

“He died because he loved us, not because we were good enough. So no matter how condemned you feel, God doesn’t condemn you. Only the devil does that. So Mr. Bamidele, it takes absolutely nothing to find your way back to God again. Trust me.”

Genesis shifted in his seat. What in deuces was this sorta of conversation?

“Listen, I can recommend a good church for you. I can give you my card to call if you have any questions about Christ or salvation. But…only that, Mr. Bamidele.”

Genesis listened to the man thank her profusely and stumble back into the club with his bulk.

“Sorry to keep you waiting…I just…kingdom business.” She placed her hand on the table, angling towards her drink.

“It’s okay,” he noticed her eyes were a dark hazel color. “So, what’s the story here? Why are you in a club singing Whitney Houston and preaching Jesus? It’s ironic.”

“It’s a long story and I really can’t get into it now, especially not with a familiar stranger.” She took a sip from her drink.

“My name is Genesis.”

“Aha! Now I remember! Wait…Grace Assembly?”

He inclined his head to show she was right.

“Wow. Wow. Coincidence, then?” she raised an eyebrow.

“Well, isn’t there something in the Bible about the Lord ordering the steps of the righteous?”

She laughed again, “nice one, Genesis.”

“So I am no stranger anymore and I am interested in that story. Can I buy five more minutes of your time?”

“Hmmm.” She glanced at her wrist. “I’m afraid not. We’d have to reschedule.”

“Uh…a date?”

“No, a story-telling appointment. I don’t do dates, Genesis.”

“Okay, okay. I’ll call you?”

“You have my card, yeah?”

He couldn’t tell her he had dropped it somewhere he couldn’t remember, so he lied.

She downed her drink and stood, “thanks for the drink, Genesis. I have to go now, though.”

“Wonderful singing again, I must say.” Although he thought wonderful was a light way of describing her rendition.

“Thank you,” with a slight bow, she disappeared into the night; leaving Genesis staring at the space where she sat only a moment ago.

To Be Continued…

Mimi A.

The Club Of God- Fearing Men – 4

His belle turned out to be a visiting singer from some other church. Her name was Abbey.

He spent half the service fantasizing about her, the moment she mounted the auditorium, he let his mind wander.

So what did it matter that she was from another church? All it was going to take was for him to move base to whatever church she was attending. He thought singing made her sexy. Maybe she’d sing out a few lines for him when they were in his bed with her long legs wrapped around…

The moment she began to speak, not sing, Genesis knew that this one was one of God’s closest. He had heard many people preach and before long, he deciphered that they were wannabe motivational speakers. They ‘preached’ just to get the crowd excited, they lied to them that the moment they became Christians, the millions would roll in, say bye-bye to a life of troubles. Jesus will take all the troubles away.

And some desperados bought that lie hook line and sinker.

This woman spoke like she knew what she was talking about, not like she had read from some handbook and was only reciting what she had read. She spoke like one who had firsthand knowledge and experience of the God she served and that made her more appealing to Genesis.

“Sometimes we look at our lives as believers and we wonder why we are. So many questions; why, where, when, how, who. I remember a period I was going through dark times and I asked myself many questions. Why did God take interest in me? What was so special about me?” she paused for effect, then said; “and this song by Marvin Sapp came to me…He saw the best in me, when everyone else around could only see the worst in me.”

She didn’t sound corny. Or maybe he was just biased by her great shape or was it her voice?

“Listen to me good, people. God doesn’t care how messy your life is or how messed up you are, He’s provided a solution even before you knew it. He sees you through His eyes. All you need to do is accept the solution He provided and live your life free of guilt. Do you understand me?”

It was no surprise that she had the congregation spellbound, heck he was too.

When she began to sing, Genesis could have sworn he was transported to heaven, or somewhere close to it. He had come prepared for something but definitely not this. He had not prepared to actually enjoy himself. This was supposed to be a game; he was supposed to get in, find the woman and get out. He wasn’t supposed to mingle, wasn’t supposed to join these people in waving their hands like he actually cared, wasn’t supposed to move his body to the rhythm of her song.

And yet he was.

If not for the fact that the picture of her, naked except for thongs; was dancing across his mind, he would have sworn he had been converted by mistake. He imagined her singing in his ears, her tongue darting slowly across his earlobe.

It was with this picture plastered firmly in his mind that he approached her as soon as the service was over. Good thing his mother had built this insane confidence in him, he wasn’t afraid to approach a woman he found attractive especially if he thought he had a chance with her. It didn’t matter how many scriptures she spewed out, he had more than enough to match hers.

She was sitting in the black leather seat provided for her, somewhere in the Pastor’s corner; gulping water from a bottle.

“Hi,” she stopped as she saw him. Then she smiled, her eyes folded lightly in a cute way.

“Hello,” he put out his hand to sake hers. “I just wanted you to know that I was really blessed by your song today. It was so inspiring.”

He knew the right words to say to not sound carnal. People like this liked to hear how much their singing blessed you; it made them feel like they were doing God’s work for real.

“I’m glad, thank you. All glory to God.” She shook his hand, her grip was meaty.

“And I must say you have a lovely voice.”

Throw in a personal compliment that she’d have to acknowledge instead of shifting it to God.

She smiled again “Thank you. And what’s your name?”

“Genesis.” He paused, waiting for the why-did-your-parents-name-you-that reaction.

“Wow,” she looked at him then, her eyes taking in his features that she had possibly ignored before, probably wondering what was so spectacular about him to be named Genesis.

“I get that a lot,” he replied, bestowing her with a winning smile.

At that moment, two girls scurried up to them, ensconced in pony tails and frilly dresses.

“Mummy, see! Look what they gave us!”

Genesis eyes widened. What the blazes? Mu- what?

Both girls climbed into her laps, giggling and holding out their parcels. She laughed, pulling them to her.

“Girls, mummy would see it later, okay? Now, Mummy is talking. Oya greet this uncle.”

As the girls greeted him, Genesis thought how this resembled a story from a bad sitcom. How could this gorgeous no-excess fat woman, be a mother of not one but two girls? How could he not have foreseen that she was married? Or was she a single mother?

“Hello girls, are you twins?” it was a lame question. But all he could think of at the moment

“Everyone sees that,” girl 1 replied, with an attitude.

“Amber! Oya, go and wait for me with Auntie Joke, we’ll soon go home.” With that their mother urged them off her laps.

“Pretty,” his former enthusiasm had waned.

“With big mouths too. They just turned seven last month and it’s been like a whirlwind. So, Genesis, how long have you been attending Grace Assembly?”

He couldn’t concentrate on this discussion especially not while he was wondering if she was married or not.

If she was married, he would back out. As much as he liked games, Genesis respected the institution of marriage. He had watched his mother deal with his father’s infidelity for over a decade and it had torn at his heart.

“Why won’t you leave him, Mummy?” he asked, often.

“And then what? Marry again? Or be lonely for the rest of my life?”

“You deserve better.”

“I have better. Some women have husbands who beat them. Your father is a good man and he keeps me warm at night. He respects me; he doesn’t bring those women home.”

“And that’s enough for you?”

He couldn’t understand how a woman who had raised him to be fiercely confident could be this…this…meek and accepting.

“How’s your husband?” he blurted before he could stop himself. His eyes sought out her ring finger. Sure enough, it bore a gold band. How had he missed it? Had he been too taken with her looks to see what was so obvious?

A smile crept into her face and she said; “He’s with the Lord.”

Translation: he don kpai.

He wasn’t sure how to feel about this news.

“Oh. I’m sorry,” he stumbled on the words.

“Don’t be.” She glanced at her wrist and Genesis took the hint.

“I would love to talk more with you. Dinner, maybe? I know it’s unconventional and well…unexpected but I just think there’s a lot I can learn from you.” He was blabbing, he knew. But he couldn’t go ahead and say; ‘please I made a bet with friends, I think you’re hot and would like to take you to bed right this minute.’

She dug in her handbag and handed him a small card.

“You can reach me on any of those numbers. Nice meeting you Genesis.”

His eyes followed her bum discreetly as she walked away from him.

What now, Gen?

To Be Continued….

Mimi. A.

My First Love

I know everyone is thinking this is yet another ‘love’ or ‘romance’ titbit; well trust me not to disappoint you. This is the story of the Greatest Romance ever. But in a way you least expect.
Many years ago, I made a life changing decision that I have not regretted any moment since then. I walked up to the altar and pledged my life to God forever. I was barely a teenager when I took this serious decision but deep down I knew I’d never want it any other way. I wanted this. Needed it.
What followed thereafter was a feeling of euphoria like never before. I felt like I was walking on air. I walked out from church that day with an enormous smile on my face and faith- larger- than- a- mustard seed in my heart. I felt like I could take on the world with the God inside me. I knew if any sick or demon-possessed person was brought my way, I would’ve healed them immediately, because I felt larger than life. I had the authority of heaven backing me. What’s to fear? I felt like I was one step away from heaven. It was a beautiful feeling.
Like it is after making such a decision, we were counselled, encouraged and advised on how to go about the rest of our lives. They reminded us that our lifestyle could not remain the same. No one would prescribe to you what to do and what not to do, let the Spirit on the inside of you lead you along as you live.
I knew there had to be an outward evidence of my inward decision. I was barely a teenager but I knew something most definitely had changed. The inexplicable joy in my heart was there, I felt like I was high on something beautiful- God’s amazing love. I didn’t speak in tongues then, but it didn’t stop me from talking to God or feeling close to him. I was ready to volunteer my time to tell people about Jesus. I wanted everyone to feel what I was feeling! I didn’t take a step without consulting the Holy Spirit, yes, His opinion mattered a whole lot than any other person’s did.

Today, many years later, I wonder how that bigger-than-mustard-seed faith dissolved into something barely visible. I wonder how and when I lost that amazing faith in my God, when I stopped remembering that the God in me is greater than whatever crap is in the world. Yes, I quoted the scripture often but I barely felt it. I rarely stopped to even believe it.

This isn’t my story alone, this is the story of many age-long believers, at least back then when we gave our lives to Christ we knew there had to be physical attributes; now no one cares about that. People walk to the altar and take that pledge and return outside without so much as changing their lifestyles. They feel grace is there to cover up our many faults. And of course it is, but shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?

Here are a few questions I want us to ponder on, questions about what happened to that first love.

-How did Scriptures lose their inimitable power and become mere anthems to us?
-When did we start believing that praying in tongues was what made us believers rather than just enjoying the beauty of God’s love?
-When did we start believing that it was standing up to give large donations to the church made us better Christians than helping a brother/sister in need?
-What happened to the widow’s mite theory?
-When did we start judging people instead of reaching out to preach to them, tell them about God’s love?
-When did we stop caring about how many minutes we spend on our knees with our Maker? Remember it isn’t quantity but quality that matters.
-When did we lose that fire that burned in our bones for the work of the kingdom?
-When did we forget that we were bought with a price, the most expensive of all?
-When did we forget that our bodies are the temple of God?
-When did we start caring more about our fancy dresses rather than the state of our hearts?
-When did we stop caring about each other and start gossiping about our faults?
-When did we start to bring down with our words and actions, our own beloved brethren?
-When did we stop believing in the power of God WITHIN us?
-When did we start thinking and acting like the world and forget that we are the salt of the earth?
-When did we start believing that muttering in watered down tongues is more important than spending time to hear what God has to say to us?
-When did we begin to care more about what people thought of us than what God says about us?
-When did we stop really caring about what God thinks about us?
-When did we start feeling it was okay to forsake the gathering of brethren just because we felt like it?
-When did we start feeling comfortable with sin and making excuses for our weaknesses?
-When did we start complaining about God instead of counting our blessings?
-What happened to that first love? That love that filled our hearts to the brim, that love that made us euphoric like newlyweds, that love that was too beautiful to describe?

Think back to that feeling and ask yourself if you don’t want it back. Remind yourself of how much you love God. One thing I do know, He misses you. He misses how much you needed Him back then and of course, He isn’t judging; His arms are wide open waiting for you to run into them again.
Will you?

By Mimi A.

Author’s Note: This is more than just an article, this is from a heart that cares and understands what it means to have loved and lost the Greatest Love of your life.
Have a great Sunday all!

A Sibling for Christmas.

“I forgot my wallet in church.”
“Oh no, Tolu. Not again.”
“Baby, I’m sorry.”
“Now what?”
“I have to get it. I have my ATM cards and all in it.”
“Aaaaw baby. On Christmas day of all days?”
“I  won’t be long I promise. Just get lunch ready and I’ll be back before you can blink.”
“Well, I just blinked.”
He kisses her. “I love you my precious. I’m sorry for being sloppy. I’ll be back soon.”
“Just go.” She taps his butt playfully.
She listens as the car drives off, shaking her head at her husband’s forgetful act.
Well, she thinks. I might as well make use of the time and get lunch ready.
An hour later, the table is set. Lunch is ready. The  living room is beautifully decorated  and Christmas carols filter into the air. Her husband isn’t back yet.
Now she worries, the church is only a drive away; it shouldn’t have taken him so long to go there and back in thirty minutes.
She dials his phone. It rings but he doesn’t pick. She tries again, the results are the same.
What now?
Two hours and sixteen phone calls later,  she’s now worried sick. She paces the living room, pensive.
Ten minutes later, the doorbell rings.
Ah. Finally! She rushes to the door, flings it open and gets reay to scold him. But he isn’t the one standing there.
It is a serious looking man.
At first she isn’t bothered until he opens his mouth and identifies himself.
Ten seconds later she collapses to the floor. She’s just heard the worse news of her life.
Her husband is dead. A car crash. There are no survivors.
The day is 25th December.

******************************************

The first time she set eyes on the tiny bundle, she fell hopelessly in love with her. The nursemaids could see it in her eyes.
When the woman had come in six weeks ago, she’d had a blank look in her eyes, like she’d taken enough beating from life. But today was different.
Curiosity made the nurse to ask;
“Your first child?”
She looked up, now. A sad look crossed her face and the nurse couldn’t help marvelling at the beautiful face that the woman had. “No. I lost my first baby, stillbirth.”
“I’m sorry. What about your husband?”
A pause. “He died two years ago.”
“Oh my. I’m really sorry about that ma’am.” The nurse cringed to think that she’d been right; life had sure taught this woman a hard lesson.
“In fact it’ll be exactly two years on Christmas day.” The woman continued in a shaky voice.
Silence.
“So you see, I need this baby. I’ve had so much tragedy in my life for the past two years.”
“I understand ma. When would you like to sign the adoption papers?”
“Do you work on 25th December?”
A bewildered look. “Yes, yes we do.”
“Good. I’ll like to sign the adoption papers that day.”
“B…But why?”
“I want to trick fate.” The woman kissed the baby tenderly. “I’m naming her Christmas.”
The nurse wasn’t sure she wanted to hear more. The woman was obviously troubled. Naming a child Christmas! How strange! What would her life be like with a name like that?
But of course she couldn’t ask all that. The woman obviously knew what she was doing.

A week later, the adoption papers were signed.
Christmas had a new home.

**********************************************************

“Hello ma!”
“Hello, you don’t remember me, do you?”
“Eh…I’m trying to recall where I’ve seen this face before.” The nurse squinted.
“Well, it’s been sixteen years. I don’t expect you to remember but let me ask, is it all the time you get people wanting to adopt babies on Christmas day”
“No…ah! It is you!  I remember! Well, you’ve aged quite well. And who’s the lovely lady with you?”
A smile. “This is my daughter, Christmas.”
“Oh my! You really gave her that name? Honey, how are you? You’re so beautiful! You even look a bit like your mummy!”
“Thank you ma. She’s the best in the world. And my friends call me Chrissie.”
“Chrissie. Lovely. It’s not all the time we get visits from our adoptive parents. So, how can I help you? Or did you come here to catch up on old times?”
“Hahaha. As much as I wish to Mrs Bola, we’re here for serious business.”
“Oh? Tell me.”
“We want to adopt another baby. Christmas needs a sibling.”
The nurse laughed. “You’re a funny woman ma; you and your daughter both.”
“Yes, I know. But you see, ever since Chrissie came into my life, things changed. She’s very symbolic of our Saviour Jesus to me and I know that sounds a bit blasphemous but you have to be in my shoes to know what I mean.”
Mrs Bola stared at the two women before her. She could literally feel the connection between them, she saw the look of love that passed between them and she smiled. For the first time in a long while, her heart swelled at being able to give these two people hope.
“Of course. Let’s talk. I’m sure we’ll find a baby that suits you both just fine.” As she turned to enter her office, a thought occurred to her. “Have you made your peace with fate?”
The woman grinned. It’s easy to see that she’s happy. “I’ve made my peace with God.”

The End.
Written by MIMIADEBAYO

I KNOW THIS ISN’T YOUR TYPICAL CHRISTMAS STORY BUT ALL  THE SAME MERRY CHRISTMAS AND AS WE CELEBRATE, LET’S NOT FORET THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.
CHRISTMAS COULD BE FICTION BUT THE FACT STILL REMAINS THAT A SAVIOUR WAS BORN TO SAVE US. SO, SPREAD THE LOVE AROUND.
CHEERS!